“The Audubon At Home Guide to Gardening for Life in Southeastern Pennsylvania” is a new resource/guide book for creating backyard habitat published through a partnership between the Bucks County Audubon Society and Waste Management.

“Gardening for life” – meaning gardening to create habitats for living things—is a growing trend in the United States. Habitat gardening provides safe places for birds, insects and other wildlife while creating interesting and diverse landscapes for the enjoyment of people.

Residents of southeastern Pennsylvania are faced with challenges that are found commonly throughout the northeast United States: excessive water, invasive plants, deer and over-development.

The Guide to Gardening for Life offers 84 colorful pages with informative essays and companion profiles of noteworthy area residents who have successfully tackled problems and created habitat spaces that are toxic-free and wildlife-friendly. Each chapter is summarized with helpful “At Home Actions (AHA!)” and includes proven advice from the profiled subjects.

Readers will also find plant and animal lists intended to enhance conservation efforts, and help to explore the meaning of their personal ecological address and the things to do to preserve its natural health.

The At Home Guide includes contributions from the state office of the Audubon Society and many other state and local organizations.

The book is available at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove gift shop or can be ordered from the Bucks County Audubon Society. It is also available to view on the Audubon At Home website for more information.

(Reprinted from Audubon Pennsylvania, Winter 2006, published by Audubon Pennsylvania.)

12/16/2005